The Guyana Police Force (GPF) said that some 84 persons lost their lives in 80 accidents which took place between January and July 2020.
Leon Wilkins
Of those persons, 37 were involved in motorcycle accidents – an alarming number.
Quite often, motorcyclists would ride in a dangerous manner, swerving between vehicles and lanes without observing the traffic regulations.
It is reported that the majority of the riders are young men who would ride alarmingly fast without wearing helmets and other protective gear.
The GPF has been complicit in encouraging that type of behaviour, since most of the time, Traffic Officers would practically ignore motorcyclists without the proper gear and focus their time on vehicles with tint.
Lakhan Persaud
Another major contributing factors to the high accident rates in Guyana is drinking and driving. Ironically, a majority of the accidents have occurred during the curfew imposed to curb COVID-19 when most people are supposed to be at home.
On June 7, a 60-year-old man lost control of his motorcycle and crashed on the Industry Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice. Ganga Persaud Shivdyall, of Fryish Village, Corentyne, received injuries about the body. He was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Dhanraj Budhram
Ten days later, 18-year-old Elijah Bollers, of Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown, lost his life in an accident involving his motorcycle and a car. Bollers was allegedly proceeding at a fast pace along Delph Avenue, Campbellville when he collided with the car – HC 1527 – which had failed to adhere to the stop sign.
Shar Scott
In January, 47-year-old Dhanraj Budhram of Belle West Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara, met his demise after a car swerved into his path and crashed into his motorcycle on the Craig, East Bank Demerara Public Road.
On May 21, a 24-year-old rank of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) died at the Georgetown Public Hospital) after being involved in an accident on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown. He was identified as Private Kwasi Rodriguez, of Albouystown, who was attached to Jaguar Company, 1st Infantry Battalion.
Ganga Persaud Shivdyall
The GDF reported that Rodriguez was riding his motorcycle when he collided with a car at Vlissengen Road and Eping Avenue and sustained injuries. He was allegedly going at a fast pace at the time of the accident.
Rodriguez was rushed in an unconscious state to the medical facility, where he was admitted. While receiving emergency medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries.
On Sunday, motorcyclist Leon Wilkins, of B Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, died when he crashed into a cyclist. It is reported that he sustained head injuries and died at the scene.
Elijah Bollers
On June 22, Shar Scott, 23, of Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, West Coast Demerara (WCD) and Mickael Jones, 22, of Middle Street, Pouderoyen, lost their lives in an accident at Le Destin Public Road, East Bank Essequibo. Both men were pillion riders with Gerald Rampersaud and Tyreace Beckles respectively.
Mickael Jones
According to persons in the vicinity, the two motorcyclists, along with about 13 others, were riding at a fast rate of speed while performing stunts when they slammed into motor car PXX 9662, which was driven by a 22-year-old man.
On the same day, 25-year-old Police Sergeant Lakhan Persaud, called “Ravi”, of Columbia, Essequibo Coast, died when he lost control of his speeding car at Land of Plenty on the Essequibo Coast. (G2)
